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KMID : 0356419990170010001
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Journal of Korean Andrology
1999 Volume.17 No. 1 p.1 ~ p.9
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Effects of Androgen Deprevation and Replacement on the Penis and Erectile Function in the Adult Rat
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Choi Young-Deuk
Park Jin-A
Chung Woo-Sik
Choi Hyung-Ki
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Abstract
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Purpose: Androgen plays an important role during penile development and is essential for libido in the male, but its role in the regulation and maintenance of the erectile response has been controversial. We investigated the effects of castration and androgen replacement on penile erection in the adult rat.
Materials and Methods: Adult male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three groups: control, castration, and androgen replacement after castration. Androgen (testosterone, DHT was administrated for 7 days at week 1, 2, 3, and 4 after castration. The intracavernosal pressure was recorded after submitting the rats to cavernous nerve stimulation. The percentages of cells in the penis expressing Ki-67 (proliferative index) and of apoptotic cells, assessed by morphologic analysis (apoptotic index), were analyzed. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity was measured by the arginine-citrulline
conversion ratio, and expression of nNOS and eNOS was determined by Western blot analysis.
Results: After castration, a significant increase was noted in the apoptotic index, with a decrease in the expression of nNOS and eNOS. Replacement of androgen increased the proliferative index and the expression of nNOS and eNOS. Castration also induced a reduction in NOS activity and erectile function in response to cavernous nerve
stimulation; NOS activity and erectile function were restored with androgen replacement.
Conclusions: These results suggested that the penile tissue and NOS activity of the adult rat are affected by the androgen milieu and that androgens such as testosterone and DHT Play a direct role in the erectile function at the level of the erectile tissue.
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KEYWORD
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Penis, Androgen, Apoptosis, Proliferation, Nitric oxide,
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